Unit II, III & IV

FLEXIBILITY METHOD

Recall unit I

1.What is flexibility

2.Flexibility of a axially loaded member

3.Flexibility matrix of beam element

4.Concept of flexibility

[F]{P} = {Δ}

Analysis of indeterminate structure [System approach]

P1 P2

B C
A
Fig 1 Given structure

DOI = 5 - 2 = 2 VB Vc
2
1 2

Fig 2 Released Structure

Choose V B & VC as redundant

P2
P2 Δ2R
Δ1R

Δ1L
Δ2L

Fig 3 : Deformation under load Fig 4 : Deformation under the action of

Redundant
 F11
F21
Flexibility co- F12 F22
efficient

Unit load Unit load

Fig 5:- Unit load at co-ordinate 1 Fig 6:- Unit load at co-ordinates 2

Consider an indeterminate contimous beam as shown in fig 1 neglecting horizontal displacement and
therefore horizontal reaction at A being neglected

DOI = 4-2 = 2 (horizontal component are not considered)

Choosing VB & VC as redundant (unknowns)

Released structure (determinate structure) is as shown in fig 2. Let Δ1L1 & Δ2L2 be the displacement
along the co-ordinates (1) & (2) in the released structures under the action of external loads (Refer fig 3)

Let Δ R1 & Δ R2 be the displacement along co-ordinates (1) & (2) under the action of unknown
redundant as shown in fig 4.

Applying compatibility conditions along co-ordinates (1) & (2) we have,

ΔL1 + ΔR1 = Δ1 - 1a

ΔL2 + ΔR2 = Δ2 - 2a

ΔR1 = Δ1 – ΔL1 - 1b

ΔR2 = Δ2 – ΔL2 - 2b

Δ11 + Δ12 = Δ1 – ΔL1 - 1c

Δ21 + Δ22 = Δ2 - ΔL2 - 2c

f11R1 + f12 R2 = Δ1 – ΔL1 - 1d

f21R1 + f22 R2 = Δ 2 – ΔL2 - 2d

[ ]{ } {
f 11 f 12 R1
f 21 f 22 R2
= ∆ 1−∆ L1
∆ 2−∆ L2 } - 3
 { }[ ]{ }
−1
R1 f f ∆1−∆ L1
= 11 12 −¿4
R2 f 21 f 22 ∆2−∆ L2

Flexibility method [System approach]

In system approach of flexibility method the steps to be followed are as follows

1.Determine the degree of static indeterminacy of the given structure.

2.Make choice of redundant actions (forces or moments)and arrive at released structures by removing
the redundant.

3.choose a co-ordinates on the released structure.

4.Find the displacement in the released structure along choosen co-ordinates under the action of given
external loads

5.Find the flexibility co-efficients by applying unit loads on the released structure.Unit loads are to be
applied at a co-ordinates at time. Then the displacement along the co-ordinates represent a column in
flexibility matrix, taken in order [Refer fig 5 & 6]

6.Apply the compatability conditions to solve for unknown redundant.

[F] {P} = {Δ}

Or
[ ]{ } { }
f 11 f 12 R1
f 21 f 22 R2
∆ −∆ L1
= 1
∆ 2−∆ L2

{ }[ ]{ }
−1
R1 f f ∆1−∆ L1
Or = 11 12
R2 f 21 f 22 ∆2−∆ L2

Flexibility method [Element approach]

This method differs from system approach only with respect to derivation of system flexibility matrix [F].
The system or global flexibility matrix [F] is obtained by using the following relation

[F] = [A]T [Fx] [A]

Where [F] = Required system of flexibility matrix

[A] = Force transformation matrix

[Fx] = unassembled flexibility matrix

Force transformation matrix [A]mxn.

 {Transformation of information from system forces to element forces equations of equilibrium }

Consider a structural system having ‘n’ system co-ordinates and ‘M’ local co-ordinates.

Let P1, P2 ……Pn be the forces acting along global co-ordinates. Let P1*, P*2, P*3………..P*m be the forces
along local co-ordinates or element

Then force transformation matrix may be defined as a matrix which relates the forces acting system co-
ordinates to the forces which are acting along element co-ordinates

i.e…..{P*}mx1 = [A]mxn {P}nx1

An element aij in force transformation matrix indicates force in element co-ordinates along ix due to a
unit force acting along global co-ordinates j.

Derive the force transformation matrix of a structure with system co-ordinates and element co-
ordinates as shown in the fig.

3
B 1 2 x 4
C
A x x x

6m 5m A B
B C
LOCAL CO-ORDINATE
GLOBAL CO-ORDINATE

{p*}4*1 = [a]4*2 {p}2*1.

To get first column of [A]:

Apply unit load along Global system co-ordinates 1

B
6

{}
A C 6
0
AI =
0
Unit load 0 B1
6m 5m

To get second column of [A]:

Apply unit load along global co-ordinates 2

A B
5 5
11 C
 B C
A

{}
11 Unit load
−5
AII =
5
0

[ ]
6 11
0 −5
A=
0 5
0 0

To find [A]
A
1 2 3
A
C
l B l
2 2
{P*}4*1 = [A] 4*3 {P}3*1
1
2

l l
2 2
{P*}4*1 = [A]4*2 {P}2*1. 3
2
4m
1

5m

{P*}4*1 = [A]4*2{p}2*1.

(1)To get I column of [A]

1 2 3 3x
1x 4x

2x
 1 Global co-ordinates 1 1 l 1
* =
l 2 2
Apply unit load along (1)

1 1
R l 1
l B1 l
R

[]
A1 l l
1 2 2
−1
2
[A]1 =
1
2
0
1
Apply unit load along (2)

B 1
A C L/4 L/4

[]
0
−l
4
[A]2 =
l
4 1
0 ½ 1/L * L/2 = ½
A B C
Applying unit load along (3)

1 1 1 1
l l l l

B
A
 [] [ ]
0 1 0 0
−1 −1 −l −1
2 2 4 2 1
[A]3 = A=
1 1 l 1
2 2 4 2
−1 0 0 −1

1
1x 2x 3x
2
4x
A B

Applying unit load at co-ordinate (1)

[]
0
−l
4
[A]1 =
l
4
0

Applying unit load at co-ordinate (2)

1
½ ½
C 0 0

A B
1/L 1/L

L/2 L/2

[]
0
+1
2
[A]2 =
1
2
0

B
 []
0 0
−l 1
4 2
[A] =
l 1
4 2
0 0
3 3x
2x 4x
4m C 2
1

5m

A
1x
GLOBAL CO-ORDINATES
1
1

5M

1
5

[]
−5
0
[A]1 = 4
0 4
0
4M
1
5M 1
4M

[]
4
−4
[A]2 =
4 1 1
0
1
1

1
 []
−1
1 1
[A]3 =
−1
1

[ ]
−5 4 −1
0 −4 1
[A] =
0 4 −1
0 0 1
4m
3
1 3m

5M
2

3 3
3 3

[]
1
3
−3 3
3
−3
3
0
4 4

1 1
1

4
 []
4
−4
4
0
0
0
1
1

1 1
1

[]
−1
1
−1
1
−1
1

[ ]
3 4 −1
−3 −4 1
3 4 −1
[A] =
−3 0 1
3 0 −1
0 0 1
P2
Unassembled flexibility matrix:-
P1

1
B 2 C
A 1

1x 2x 3x
B
A 2
1
1 1 C 2
B
 - Element nos

- Global node no

- Node no element wise

Consider a structure as shown in fig 1 for which degree of indeterminacy is 2.

Choosing reactions at B & C as redundant, the released structure with system co-ordinates is shown in
fig 2.

The compatibility equations for the structure in system co-ordinates may be written as

[F]2*2 {P}2*1 = {Δ}2*1

Similarly compact ability equations for each element is given by equation 2a & 2b

[ ]{ } { }
¿ ¿ ¿ ¿
f 11 f 12 P1 = d 1 →2 a
f ¿21 f ¿22 1
¿
P2 d2
¿

[ ]{ } { }
¿ ¿ ¿ ¿
f 11 f 12 P3 = d 1 → 2 b
f ¿21 f ¿22 2
¿
P4 d2
¿

Equations 2a & 2b may be combined as

[ [ ]
]{ } { }
¿ ¿
f 11 f 12 ¿
P1 d1
¿
0
f ¿21 f ¿22 1
¿
P2 = d 2
¿

[ ]
¿ ¿ ¿ ¿
f 11 f 12 P3 d3
0 ¿ ¿
f 21 f 22 2
P¿4 d ¿4

The above equation may be written as

[F*] {p*} = {d*}

Where [F*] – unassembled (global) flexibility matrix

{P*} – force vector in local co-ordinates

{d*} – displacement vector in local co-ordinates

In general if a system has ‘n’ global co-ordinates & ‘m’ local co-ordinates then unassembled flexibility
matrix relates forces in local co-ordinates to the displacement in local co-ordinates

[F*]m*m {p*}m*1 = {d*}m*1.

Whereas assembled flexibilty matrix relates forces in global co-ordinates to the displacement in global
co-ordinates

[F*]m*n {p*}n*1 = {d*}n*1.

Unassembled flexibility matrix can be obtained by placing flexibility matrix of all element in local co-
ordinates along the diagonal of a square matrix.

Principle (law) of contragradience of forces:-

If two statically equivalent force system {P*} & {P} are connected by force transformation matrix [A]
then the corresponding displacement {d*} & {Δ} are connected in reverse order by the transpose of
force transformation matrix[A].

i.e….If {P*} = [A]{P}

then {Δ} = [A]T {d*}

Proof:- work done by internal forces [Local forces]

¿ ¿ 1 ¿ ¿ 1 ¿ ¿
= ½ P1 d 1+ p2 d 2 … … . pm d m
2 2
m
1 ¿ ¿ 1 ¿T ¿
=∑ p d = { p } {d 1 }
i=2 2 i i 2 i

1 1
IIIrly work done by external forces = ½ P1 D 1+ P2 D2+ … … .. Pn D n
2 2
n
1
= ½ ∑ Pi D i= { P } {∆ }
T

i=1 2

Equating the work done by external force to the internal force we have,

½ {P}T {Δ} = ½ {P*}T {d*}

= ½ {[A] {P}}T {d*}

{P}T {Δ} = [A]T {P}T {d*}

From equation 3

{Δ} = [A]T {d*}

 Relation between [F*] & [F]:

{prove [F] = [A]T [F*] [A]]

Compatability equation in system co-ordinates may be written as

[F] {P} = {Δ }

From the principle of contragradience of forces we have

{Δ} = [A]T {d*}

The compatability equations in local co-ordinates can be written as

[F*] {P*} = {d*}

Substituting 2 & 3 in 1 we have

[F] {P} = [ A]T {d*}

[F] {P} = [A]T [F*] {P*}

= [A]T [F*] [A] {P}

From law og contragradience {P*} = [A] {P}

Comparing LHS & RHS we have

[F] = [A]T [F*] [A]

Find the vertical displacement at the centre of beam

150KN-m 150KN-m

A B

12m

Solution:-
2
1
x
3
1 2x 3x Global co-ordinates
A 4x
B B C

6m
 Local co-ordinates

[F] {P} = {Δ}

To find force vector

{ }
0
{P} = 150
−150

To find [F]

[F] = [A]T [F*] [A]

3
To find [A]

To get 1st column of [A]

Applying unit load at co-ordinates (1)

1 3KN-m ½ *6 = 3 KN-m

RA = -1/2 Rc = -1/2 ½ ½

[]
0
3
[A]1 =
−3
0

To get 2nd column of [A]

Applying unit load at co-ordinates (2)

1 1 /2 1/12*6 – ½
1
C
A
1/12 RC =1/12 1/12
1/12

εm A =0

-RC * 12 + 1 = 0

RC = 1/12
 [ ]
1
−0.5
[A]2 =
0.5
0

To get 3rd column of [A]

Applying unit load at co-ordinate 3

0.5 1/12*6 – ½
B =0.5

A
1/12 1/12 1/12 1/12
1/12 1/12

εm c =0

RA * 12 + 1 = 0

RA = -1/12

[ ]
0
0.5
[A]3 =
−0.5
1

[ ]
0 1 0
3 −0.5 0.5
[A] =
−3 0.5 −0.5
0 0 1

To find [F*]

For element 1

[ ]
l −l
3 EI 6 EI
[Fx]1 =
−l l
6 EI 3 EI l =6

= [
1 2 −1
EI −1 2 ]
For element 2
 [ ]
l −l
3 EI 6 EI
[Fx]2 =
−l l
6 EI 3 EI l =6

= [
1 2 −1
EI −1 2 ]

[ ]
2 −1 0 0
1 −1 2 0 0
[Fx ] =
EI 0 0 2 −1
0 0 −1 2

Consider [Fx] [A]

[ ][ ]
2 −1 0 0 0 1 0
1 −1 2 0 0 3 −0.5 0.5
=
EI 0 0 2 −1 −3 0.5 −0.5
0 0 −1 2 0 0 1

[ ]
3 2.5 −0.5
1 6 −1 1
=
EI −6 1 −1
+3 −0.5 2.5

[ ][ ]
3 2.5 −0.5
0 3 −3 0
6 −1 1 1
[F] = 1 −0.5 0.5 0
−6 1 −1 EI
0 0.5 −0.5 0
+3 −0.5 2.5

[ ]
36 −9 9
1
[F] = −9 4 −2
EI
9 −2 4

[F] {P} = {Δ}

[ ]{ } { }
36 −9 9 0 D1
1
= −9 4 −2 150 = D2
EI
9 −2 4 −150 D3